Henry d



H. D. RAHLING.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1916.

1 22,265 Patented Nov. 18; 1919.

anuawtoz He/ny D. fPa/r/fny UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

HENRY D. RAHLING, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. RAHLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction in a switch will be protected against deterioration from sparking.

A further object is to provide a construction which is cheap to manufacture and which has very little liability of getting out of order in service.

Another object is to provide a construction in which sticking will be avoided.

Other objects will be apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 represents in sectional elevation one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation.

The embodiment of the present invention chosen for illustration is an automatic electro-magnetic switch which may be used between the generator and the storage battery of an automobile lighting system to close circuit between said generator and storage battery when said generator is developing a voltage equal to or greater than the counter E. M. F. of the battery. The numeral 1 indicates the magnet core centrally mounted on a U-shaped magnet yoke 2. A keeper or armature 3 is provided which spans the two ends of the magnet yoke 2 and the free end of the magnet core 1. Surrounding the core 1 is a coil 4 of relatively fine wire. Surrounding said coil 1 is a coil 5 of relatively heavy wire. Securing the armature 3 to the yoke 2 is a spring member 6 which may be of any suitable conducting material which provides the necessary resiliency, as for instance, phosphor bronze. Said sprmg member 6 serves to hold the armature 3 away from the core 1 and yoke 2. Mounted on the armature 3 in any suitable manner, as by screws or rivets, is a spring member 7 referably of phosphor bronze, which member 7 is provided with'an end portion 8 bent at right angles to the portion 7. At the extremity of the end portion 8 is the angularly bent. portion 9 lying at angle of approxi- Specification of Letters Patent.

but insulatedtherefrom, is the metallic terminal member 11. For the purpose of insulating the member 11 from the yoke 2 and the member 23, an insulating member 11 may be provided. Said member 11 is bent intermediate of its length to provide an angularly positioned portion 12' adapted to support a contact member 13 in a position to cooperate with the contact member 10. Said Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed May 20. 1916. Serial No. 98,887.

terminal member 11 is provided with an outwardly extending end portion 14L adapted to hold a carbon contact 15. Said carbon contact 15 preferably extends through a suitable hole in the outwardly extending portion of the member 11. Said carbon contact 15 is provided with a head portion 16 bearing against said outwardly extending portion of themember 11. Contacts 15 and 13 are electrically united by the conducting strip 17 Said strip 17 will be of sufficient rigidity to hold the contact member 15 securely in place in the member 11. Said member 11 is provided at its lower end with a loop member 18 which is adapted to inclose a wire 19. Mounted above the spring member 7 on the armature 3 is the spring member 20, preferably of phosphor bronze. On the end of said spring member 20 is mounted a carbon contact 21, projecting through a hole in the spring member 7 at the proper place to contact with the carbon contact 15. Said carbon contact 21 is provided with a head portion 22' which normally rests a ainst the upper side of the spring member The spring member. 7 and the spring member 20 are designed so that the head portion of the contact 21 will normally firmly engage the top portion of member is also provided with a central portion 26 adapted to engage the spring member 20 to limit the upward movement of the same. The central portion 26 is so designed that it will be impossible for the spring member 20 to rise high enough to allow the contact member 21 to escape from the hole in the Spring member 7.

The terminals (not shown) of the fine winding 4 may be connected across the circuit which is to be closed. One side of the said circuit will be grounded to the yoke member 2 or to some member in electrical contact therewith, while the other side of said circuit will be connected to the loop member 18 as by the wire 19.

A mode of operation of the present invention is substantially as follows. With the switch open, contacts 15 and 21 will be separated, as will contacts 10 and 13. The head portion 22 of contact 21 will rest upon the upper side of the spring 7 under the influence of the spring 20. When the electromagnet, comprising the core 1 and the yoke 2, is energized, the armature 3 will be attracted, members 7 and 20 will move as one member until contact 21 and contact 15 engage, thus completing circuit from the yoke 2 through member 20, contact 21, contact 15,

terminal member 7 to the wire 19. Further movement of the armature 3 will draw the member 7 away from the head portion 22 of the contact 21 and permit contact 10 to come into enga ement with contact 13. Circuit may now e traced from the yoke 2, though the member 7, contact 10, contact 13, terminal member 11, to the loop 18 and wire 19. The switch will now be in its closed position, the maximum portion of the current taking the path last traced.

separate the carbon contacts 21 and 15. It will be clear that on bothmaking and breaking the circuit, any sparking which may occur, due to such make and break, will occur on the carbon contacts 21 and 15, leaving the contacts 10 and 13 practically free from sparking. Contacts 10 and 13 will therefore be a little liable to deterioration and will be incondition to provide a path of comparatively low resistance.

Due to the fact that the bracket member 23 projects above the oke member 2, armature 3 will not be a le to come in contact with said yoke at its outer extremity. Sticking of the armature will therefore be avoided.

One embodiment of the resent invention has been described in detail. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is desired to cover in this case all such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a switch, a movable member carrying a main contact, a resilient member carrying an auxiliary contact, said movable member constituting an operating means for said auxiliary contact, and means for preventing said auxiliary contact and said movable member from getting out of operative relation.

2. In a switch, a fixed magnetic member. a movable magnetic member cooperating with said fixed magnetic member and carrying a main contact, a resilient member carrying an auxiliary contact, said movable member constituting an operating means for said auxiliary contact, and a common member for preventing sticking between said fixed and movable magnetic members and for preventing said auxiliary contact and said movable member fromgetting out of operative relation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

HENRY D. RAHLING. 

